ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Home Affairs
SCHEME FOR EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION OF FIRE SERVICES
The Government has launched a “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States” on 04.07.2023 from the earmarked allocation of Preparedness and Capacity Building Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund  for strengthening fire services in the States for the period upto 2025-26, with a total outlay of Rs. 5,000 Crore.
Funds are available to the States under the scheme on cost sharing basis. The identified activities have been broadly categorized under expansion of fire services and modernization of fire services in the States. The measures included in the scheme provides setting up of new fire stations, strengthening of State Training Centres and capacity building, provisions for modern fire-fighting equipment, strengthening of State Headquarters and Urban Fire Stations, technological upgradation and installation and augmentation of online system etc. In addition, an amount of Rs. 500 crore, out of the total outlay, are available to incentivize the States for adoption of legal and infrastructure-based reforms.
Fire Service is a State subject and has been included as a Municipal function in the XII Schedule of the Constitution of India under Article 243 . The Central Government does not maintain any data related to fire accidents/incidents in States centrally.
It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to take necessary steps required for safety of life and property from fire hazards in the area of their jurisdictions. Central Government had circulated a “Model Bill to Provide for the Maintenance of Fire and Emergency Service for the State” to all the States / Union Territories on 16.09.2019 for suitable revision in their respective Fire Service Rules / Regulations.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Admission Seminar to be held in Ahmedabad for Admissions to FTII and SRFTI
Golden Opportunity for Gujarat Youth Interested in Careers in Cinema and Television.
For the first time in Gujarat , India's two most reputed centres of film and television education are conducting an Admission Seminar in Ahmedabad for the academic session in 2018.
Film and Television Institute of India  Pune and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute  Kolkata  have announced Joint Entrance Test  for 2018 admissions. The all-India test will be on 18th February in 26 centres across the country which includes Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
As this is the first time both institutes have come together for a common entrance test, FTII is conducting Admission Seminars in various locations across the country. Such seminars will generate awareness about JET, about the increased number of courses on offer and provide an opportunity to prospective candidates to seek clarifications from FTII representatives who will be addressing such seminars.
"FTII aims to attract maximum participants to these Seminars so that a large number of aspirants from Gujarat get an opportunity to take the JET exams this year. This year FTII is making special efforts to increase entrance test enrolment in states such as Gujarat where the entrance test candidate turn out has been traditionally low", said Bhupendra Kainthola announcing FTII's plans to reach out to states with low turn out in FTII- SRFTI entrance tests.
In Ahmedabad, the Admission Seminar would be from 12 noon to 2 pm on Friday, 19th January at
Conference Hall,
H K Arts College,
Opposite Handloom House,
Near Nehru Bridge,
Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad.
Candidates applying for admission to
FTII and SRFTI go through a multi-stage selection process. The first is an All India level written examination, Joint Entrance Test, 2018 .
JET 2018 is a written test of three hours duration consisting of objective type and subjective questions and will be conducted in 26 centers across India. Based on the JET 2018 score of the candidates, FTII and SRFTI will send call letters to the candidates for the Second stage of the selection process and thereafter, on successful accomplishment of all the requisites, finally admit students in their full time regular programmes for the academic year 2018.
The last date of online registration for JET 2018 is 25th January while the Test will be held on Sunday, 18th February 2018 in two sessions .
Admission Seminars to generate awareness about FTII- SRFTI Joint Entrance Test  have already been held in Uttarakhand , Banasthali Vidyapeeth and Jaipur ,Somaiya Vidyavihar and Mumbai  Guwahati ,Imphal  Bhubaneswar  Lucknow , Patna and Jammu .
[12:55 PM, 1/17/2018] Navalsinh Parmar: Scroll for Ahmedabad News Bulletins.....
FTII Pune & SRFTI Kolkata is holding
Admission Seminar in Ahmedabad for Film and TV courses.
Date : 12-2 pm Friday, 19th January.
Venue : HK Arts College, Near Nehru Bridge, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad.
For details visit www.ftiindia.com & www.srfti.ac.in
(Visitor Counter : 411
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Locust control operations carried out in around 3 lakh hectares area in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar
During 12th -13th July, control operations were carried out at 26 places in 7 districts of Rajasthan, Sitapur and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh, and in Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts of Haryana
Starting from 11th April, 2020 till 12th July, 2020, control operations have been done in 1,60,658hectares area in States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana by Locust Circle Offices . Till 12thJuly, 2020, control operations have been done in 1,36,781hectares area in States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar by State Governments.
In the intervening night of 12th-13th July, 2020; control operations were carried out at 26 places in 7 districts viz.Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Churu, Jhunjhunu and Alwar of Rajasthan, 1 place in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh and at 2 places in Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts of Haryana by LCOs. Besides this, respective State Agriculture Department/s also carried out control operations at 2 places in the districts of Bhiwani and Mahendragarh in Haryana and 2 places in the districts of Sitapur and Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, in the intervening night of 12th-13th July, 2020 against small groups and scattered population of locusts.
Presently 60 control teams with spray vehicles are deputed /deployed in State of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and more than 200 Central Government personnel are engaged in locust control operations. In addition, 20 spray equipments have been received and are deployed for locust control. To strengthen the control capacity, 55 additional vehicles have also been purchased and deployed for locust control.
Further, 5 companies with 15 drones are deployed at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur and Phalodi in Rajasthan for effective control of locusts on tall trees and in inaccessible areas through spraying of pesticides. A Bell helicopter has been deployed in Rajasthan for use in Scheduled Desert Area as per the need. Indian Air Force also has conducted trials in anti-locust operation by using a Mi-17 helicopter.
No significant crop losses have been reported in the States of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana. However, some minor crop losses have been reported in some districts of Rajasthan
Swarms of immature pink locusts and adult yellow locusts were active in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jhunjhunu, SriganganagarAlwar and Churu districts of Rajasthan; Bhiwani, and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana and Sitapur and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh .
- Control operation at Yakubpur Tehsil Karnekganj in Gonda district, UP
- Control operation at RamgarhAlwar in Haryana
- Control operation at Chirawa, in Rajasthan
- Locust mortality at Kasani in Rajasthan
Ministry of Mines
Setting up of Dedicated Mineral Rail Corridors
National Mineral Policy, 2019 inter alia provides that dedicated mineral corridors shall be planned to facilitate transport of minerals from mining areas in hinterland alongwith encouraging the local evacuation networks to be built in an integrated manner.
Ministry of Railways has sanctioned construction of two dedicated freight corridors ; i.e. Eastern and Western DFCs. Further, MoR has decided to prepare Detailed Project Report  for the following three new Dedicated Freight Corridors:
 East-Coast Corridor 
 East-West Sub-corridor
 (Palghar-Bhusawal-Nagpur–Kharagpur-Dankuni : 2163 KM and
 Rajkharsawan-Kalipahari-Andal : 195 KM)
 North-South Sub-corridor 
Maximum moving dimensions on DFC will be more liberal and comparable to world standards to permit heavier and longer trains. The DPRs for the DFCs are prepared by aligning the requirement of evacuation of minerals also from the hinterland.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in RajyaSabha today.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways making sincere efforts to curb drug trafficking through their network
Focused drive - “Operation NARCOS” is undertaken by RPF to take action against trafficking of Drugs via Railways.
Indian Railways are making sincere efforts to curb drug trafficking through their network and a focused drive i.e. “Operation NARCOS” is undertaken by RPF to take action against trafficking of Drugs via Railways. The Government of India through its notification no.1403 dated 11.04.2019 has authorized officers of Railway Protection Force to arrest, search and seize Narcotics drugs under NDPS Act. The Narcotics drugs seized and suspects arrested by RPF under NDPS Act are handed over to the LEAs empowered to register the cases & investigate them. For review and coordination among various Central and State Agencies, the Narco Coordination Centre  meetings are held periodically.
Railways is one of the modes of trafficking of drugs across the country used by traffickers in illegal trade of Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances . ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, therefore, State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and maintenance of law and order on Railways including drug trafficking through their law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police /District Police/ Narcotics Control Bureau /State Excise etc.
During the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 , 4556 cases have been registered under NDPS Act by concerned Law Enforcing Agencies  with arrest of 2125 persons and recovery of Narcotics worth ₹66.53 Crores  over Indian Railways.
The areas and routes prone to drug trafficking are dynamic in nature and keep on changing. Based on regular analysis, such vulnerable routes are identified regularly and effective preventive measures taken to control drug trafficking in coordination with all stakeholders.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Investment in Food Processing Sector
Ministry of Food Processing Industries  is implementing a Central Sector scheme- PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA  for overall growth and development of food processing sector including augmenting the preservation and processing capacity in the sector with off farm employment generation across the country. Total investment leveraged through implementation of the componentschemes of PMKSY over the past three years was Rs.7185.48 crore. Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel gave this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries do not compile or maintain data on FDI in Food processing sector. FDI Policy and data is looked after by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade , Ministry of Commerce & Industry.The details of FDI equity inflow in the food processing sector reported over the past three years was USD 1926.35 million. As informed by DPIIT, the state wise information on FDI equity inflows is being compiled only since October 2019. Accordingly,State-wise break up of FDI in FPI sector during 2020-21 as reported by DPIIT is as under:
STATEMENT ON STATE WISE FDI EQUITY INFLOWS in FPI sector
FROM APRIL 2020 TO MARCH 2021

|
|
S.No.
|
|
State Name
|
|
2020-21

|
|
1
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
0.03
|
|
2
|
|
Delhi
|
|
31.10
|
|
3
|
|
Goa
|
|
0.02
|
|
4
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
12.75
|
|
5
|
|
Haryana
|
|
19.16
|
|
6
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
0.16
|
|
7
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
0.34
|
|
8
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
24.16
|
|
9
|
|
Kerala
|
|
0.10
|
|
10
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
188.09
|
|
11
|
|
Punjab
|
|
0.02
|
|
12
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
80.37
|
|
13
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
9.51
|
|
14
|
|
Telangana
|
|
24.75
|
|
15
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
2.51
|
|
16
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
0.34
Source: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
I was a picky eater, but when I started eating a balanced diet, I felt more energetic and my game improved: Avani Lekara
“It is very likely to come across ridiculous comments and criticism from people. They may think that you cannot achieve something you want but if you keep at it, one day you will excel and they will see that too,” This intense message was given by Avani Lekhara, India’s first woman double medalist at the Paralympics, while she addressed students from 90 schools, among them a group of visually impaired students during the unique school-visit campaign, Meet The Champions, held in New Delhi’s Shaheed Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya on Monday.
With cheers and applause, the shooter who created her own legacy in what was her debut Paralympics, was welcomed by students from South East District of New Delhi for a close interaction on Santulit Aahar , fitness and sports.
The ace shooter kicked off the programme by thanking the Prime Minister who came up with this unique initiative -Meet the Champions and handed-over the responsibility of carrying the message of the importance of balanced diet to all Olympians and Paralympians.
Taking forward the programme with various interesting anecdotes, videos and questions with the students, 20-year old Avani shared her childhood memories related to diet, her fitness routine and academics. “I was very picky about food and fast food has been my favourite. But once I started having a balanced diet I realised that I felt more energetic and my game improved. If you eat well, no matter what you do, whether you play sport or study you will do it better and you will be in a happier state of mind,” said Avani.
She also stressed on the importance of having a good group of friends and supportive parents in life and said, “When you have good friends and supportive parents, it becomes easier for one to overcome challenges of life and pursue the goal. As students, it is your duty to support one another. Don't make fun of your around you if they are weak in something, instead help them."
The Golden girl also spoke about her initial days in shooting and how people joked about how thin she was. “During my initial days in sports, I was very thin so people would joke saying how are you going to pick a 5kg rifle and shoot. But then I never gave up on what I determined to follow and with good diet, extreme practice and confidence, I fired my way to the top of the podium in Paralympics,” she expressed.
Avani also carried the Rifle that fetched her gold medal at the Paralympics and showing the gun, she spoke about its functions and technicalities during the programme.
This unique initiative is being organized jointly by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Education and is part of the government’s ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Prime Minister's Office
PM’s interaction with Medal Winners of 18th Asian Games
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the medal winners of the recently concluded 18th Asian Games, at his residence, today.
The Prime Minister congratulated the medal winners and complimented them for their exemplary performance in the best ever medal tally for India in Asian Games. He told the medal winners that their sporting feats have raised India’s stature and pride. He expressed hope that the medal winners will remain grounded and would not lose focus due to fame and accolades.
During the interaction, Prime Minister urged the sports persons to use technology as an aid to improve their performance. He added that sports persons should continue their self-improvement by using technology aided critical analysisof their performance as well as those of top players in the world.
Prime Minister expressed happiness in seeing young talents rise from the small towns, rural areas and from poor background and win medals for the nation. He said that there is real potential in the rural areas and we should continue nurturing those talents.He added that the outside world is unaware of the day-to-day struggles, a sports person has to go through.
Prime Minister got emotional while mentioning the names of some sports persons who had to go through immense hardships to be a medal winner for the nation. He saluted their grit and dedication to their disciplines and hoped that the rest of the country would get inspired from their efforts.
PM Modi urged the sports persons not to rest based on the laurels achieved and asked them to strive harder for greater glory. He said that the biggest challenge for the medal winners will start now and they should never lose their goal of being in the Olympic Games podium.
Minister of State  for Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, was present on the occasion. In his opening remarks, Rajyavardhan Rathore said that Prime Minister’s vision and government’s initiatives played a vital role in the improved medal tally and in inspiring young sports persons.
India had garnered a record medal haul at the 18thAsian Games held at Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, by bagging 69 medals, beating the previous best of 65 medals won at Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010.
Ministry of Finance
Expenditure on Social Services Increased by 1.5 Percentage Points as Proportion of GDP between 2014-15 and 2019-20: Economic Survey
1.34 Per Cent Average Annual HDI Growth Makes India One of the Fastest Improving Countries
Expenditure on 'Education and Health' As Percentage of GDP Increased From 4 To 4.7 Per Cent Between 2014-15 And 2019-20
Investment in social infrastructure is a pre-requisite for inclusive growth and employment. The Government's commitment towards social well-being is a major highlight of the Economic Survey 2019-20 which was presented by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in Parliament today.
Trends in Expenditure on Social Services
As per the Economic Survey, the expenditure on social services by the Centre and States increased from 7.68 lakh crore in 2014-15 to 15.79 lakh crore in 2019-20 . As a proportion of Gross Domestic Product , the expenditure on social services has registered an increase of 1.5 percentage points during the period 2014-15 to 2019-20 from 6.2 to 7.7 per cent. The expenditure on education, as percentage of GDP increased from 2.8 per cent to 3.1 per cent between 2014-15 and 2019-20 . Similarly, expenditure on health increased from 1.2 per cent to 1.6 per cent during the same period as percentage of GDP, the pre-Budget document notes.
Human Development
India's rank in the Human Development Index  improved to 129 in 2018 from 130 in 2017, reaching a value of 0.647. With 1.34 per cent average annual HDI growth, India is among the fastest improving countries. Among its BRICS peers, India is ahead of China , South Africa , Russian Federation  and Brazil . To sustain this momentum in human development and to further accelerate it, the role of public sector in delivery of social services is critical, observes the Survey.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students is being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to reduce incidence of drop out in classes IX and X
The Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme has been conceptualized with the objective of supporting parents of scheduled tribe students for education of their wards studying in classes IX and X so that the incidence of drop out, especially in transition from the elementary to secondary and during the second stage of education is minimized; and to improve participation of ST students in classes IX and X of Pre-Matric stage, so that they perform well and have a better chance of progressing to Post-Matric stages of education.
Evaluation study of Pre-Matric Scholarship conducted by NITI Aayog in 2021 and Indian Institute of Public Administration in September 2019 has found that the scheme has been successful in achieving its objective.
Department of Schools Education and Literacy under Ministry of Education is the nodal Department for providing Universal access to quality education through its autonomous/Statutory bodies, i.e. CBSE, KVS, JNV, NIOS and NCTE and its centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha, PM Poshan, PadhnaLikhna Abhiyan and central sector scheme of National Means cum Merit Scholarships.
The report of Unified District Information System for Education  Plus published by Ministry of Education, shows that Gross Enrollment Ratio  for ST students in 2019-20 for class I to VIII is 102.08, which confirms that increased enrolment in classes I to VIII is also representative of the Scheduled Tribe populations. Likewise the GER at Senior Secondary  level has increased from 62.4% in 2012-13 to 76.7% in 2019-20.
This reply was given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Bishweswar Tudu in Lok Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
BIS OFFICIALS RAID A PACKAGED DRINKING WATER UNIT MISUSING ISI MARK
A team of Officials from Bureau of Indian Standards , Chennai Branch Office-II, Chennai 600 113 conducted an Enforcement Search and Seizure operation today 06.07.2022 at M/s Shree Balaji Aqua firm,No.27,Sri Krishna Nagar, Puzhal village, Madhavaram Taluk, Chennai, TIruvallur-600066 on information of suspected Misuse of ISI Mark.
During the operation, in pursuance of Section 28 of BIS Act 2016, the firm was found to be misusing the BIS Standard Mark  on Packaged Drinking water filled in PET Bottles bearing Brand Name “Natural Plus” , without any valid licence/authorization. The same were seized as it is a violation of BIS Act, 2016.
Action is being initiated by BIS SRO, CNBO-II, Chennai against the offender under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. The offence is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine up to Rs. 2,00,000/- but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark, including Hallmark or both as per Section 29 of BIS Act, 2016 for first Contravention.
General public are, therefore, requested that in case they come across any instances of Misuse of ISI Mark the same may be intimated to the BIS Southern Regional Office, CIT Campus, 4th Cross Road, Taramani, Chennai-600 113. Such complaints can also be made by using the BIS Care App or by sending an E-Mail to cnbo2@bis.gov.in. The source of such information would be strictly kept confidential. For further information, kindly contact BIS SRO Chennai Office on Phone No: 044-2254 1984. BIS Website www.bis.gov.in and eBIS  may be browsed for general information on BIS.
For More details on the Raid, kindly Contact Shri Kannan Govindaraj, Scientist-D , BIS, Chennai at 9645761095.
This is stated in a press release issued by the Shri. H.Ajay Khanna, Deputy Director , Mobile:9366719530.